HFD union agrees on deal to prevent 'brownouts'

Members of the Houston firefighters' union have signed off on a deal with Mayor Annise Parker that would prevent pulling firetrucks from service to help balance the Fire Department's budget.

"We're very pleased that the union membership ratified the agreement," Houston City Attorney David M. Feldman said in a statement released Friday.

Now that the deal has been approved by rank-and-file members of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association Local 341, it's up to Houston City Council members to vote on it. Feldman said they will take it up on Wednesday.

The so-called "rolling brownout" plan to idle Houston firetrucks was proposed to help solve a $10.5 million budget deficit, of which $8.5 million is attributed to excessive overtime driven by staffing shortages.

Important step forward

On Friday, firefighters union president Bryan Sky-Eagle could not be reached for comment. He did not respond to multiple messages left on his cell phone.

When the deal was announced Monday, Sky-Eagle said his members "know that public safety far out-values any timing of benefits."

Feldman said the vote "represents an important step forward in the relationship between the city and the firefighters union."

Under the agreement hammered out between city officials and the union, all HFD firetrucks will remain in service as long as there are, on average, fewer than 35 unexpected absences per day - such as sick days and emergency leave.

Time off from work

Under the current union contract, HFD Chief Terry Garrison was unable to effectively restrict when firefighters take time off from work. In the new deal with the city, the firefighters will be prohibited from using guaranteed holidays through June 30 - the end of the fiscal year.

The new deal will give firefighters a 2 percent raise and a one-time uniform allowance.

The department monitors expected absences, such as vacation days, and alters plans accordingly several months in advance. City officials said a temporary ban on guaranteed holidays was needed because those days are generally scheduled only a few days in advance. HFD leaders are forced to fill a shift with an off-duty firefighter who would then receive overtime pay.

Feldman said the deal "bodes well" for further negotiations between the city and the union on a new three-year contract.